A glimpse of gospel, jazz, and soul from the great legends is what inspires the sound of pianist Theron Brown’s music. But the reason he plays is to encourage and influence people through his talents. Originally from Zanesville, Ohio, Theron currently resides in Akron, Ohio, where he is Professor of Practice at The University of Akron teaching jazz piano, and the program coordinator for Curated Storefront’s Artist Residency Program at the ‘I Promise School’. Theron also serves as an educator...

Humpback whales sing their own special kind of music. Recorded by Paul Knapp, Jr, the songs are unique and mysterious. The compelling view from the International Space Station shows the beauty of the Caribbean Sea, the surrounding lands and islands, and the wistful clouds – the natural environment of the marvelous whales. We're left to wonder what the whales convey with their strange sounds. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40231]

Earl Thomas was born into a musical family in rural Tennessee and grew up in a house brimming with music. His father was a bluesman and his mother was a gospel singer, so music is in his veins. He stumbled into the music industry by accident, which led to a vibrant 30-year career that is steeped in African American tradition and culture. His music is a potent mix of the traditional and contemporary gospel, expressed in an impressive music catalogue. As a singer songwriter, his music – deeply...

Enjoy this mesmerizing montage of photos and music celebrating One Earth. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station Expedition 70 took these artistic photos in wonderfully diverse shades of blue in December, 2023. Steve Thomas crafted this musical guitarscape to resonate with the lovely blues of our planet. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40324]

Artist Jeff Koons is renowned for his provocative and often kitschy sculptures that blend pop culture, consumerism, and art history. His works often feature oversized and glossy renditions of everyday objects, from balloon animals to household items, challenging the boundaries between high and low art while eliciting questions about mass production and cultural value. Koons talks with Kathryn Kanjo, director & CEO of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, about his evolution as an...

Artist Shana Moulton’s other self, ‘Cynthia,’ seeks enlightenment through song, shopping and exercise. Performing the misadventures of her semi-autobiographical alter ego, artist Shana Moulton has drawn attention in the field of new media studies. Over two decades, Moulton, a professor of time-based arts at UC Santa Barbara, has used physical comedy to interpret her artistic creation, “Cynthia,” a wide-eyed ingénue. In Moulton's performance, video and sculpture series, "Whispering Pines" —...

The Universe is full of such wonderful mysteries. We know why we have Aurora, as the sun’s energy interacts with the upper atmosphere. But why such beauty in this shimmering dance? Perhaps music can reveal inner harmonies, and help us appreciate these mysteries with awe and joy. French musician Catherine Brisset plays the cristal Baschet, a unique glass keyboard with fanciful metal shapes to help the mysterious sounds resonate. Here, she plays a variation on Bach’s Sonata #2, the Grave...

Astronauts on the International Space Station see 16 moonsets every day - that's because the ISS orbits Earth every 92 minutes. Here, as the ISS travels away from the horizon, the moon sets in a serene and brief path, a colorful horizon of deep red and blue fading into the clouds of dusk. We also see the planet Venus as a small bright light left of the moon. For the music, organist Brian Hoffman plays Bach’s evocative and mysterious “Ich ruf zu dir” (I call to you) on a digital organ system...

A fixture in the local music scene since 1974, Gene Perry was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music in San Diego. His ensemble, Rumba Ketumba, is composed of a mixture of San Diego natives and musicians from around the world. Rumba Ketumba plays a high-energy mixture of Afro-Latin, Caribbean, Spanish Rumba, and other dance rhythms. Curator Yael Strom, whose Yiddish klezmer group has previously collaborated with Rumba...

An electrifying harmonizer, Lisa Sanders’ heartfelt songs are genuine with deep meaning and conviction. Her music conveys a style that can only be described as soulful country blues, integrating influences of folk-pop, gospel, rock, and jazz. Writing, singing, and producing from her heart in nearly every genre for over three decades, Sanders continues to make an impact in the musical world. Joining her from the Los Angeles band, Water Tower, will be Kenny Feinstein, on guitars, mandolin,...

Dr. Sian Proctor, astronaut, geoscientist, pilot and poet, flew on the first all-private mission to Earth orbit, on SpaceX Dragon. While in orbit, she found time to observe our beautiful planet, and wrote “Earth Light,” a poem about her mesmerizing experience. The poem captures the emotional impact of orbiting Earth - of being “bathed in Earth light.” Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40254]

He is often referred to as the "God of Manga" and the "Father of Anime", Osamu Tezuka was a pioneering Japanese manga artist, animator, and film producer. His work laid the foundation for modern manga and anime, influencing countless creators and shaping the industry as it is known today. Tezuka founded Mushi Production, one of the first anime studios in Japan, where he produced the first Japanese TV anime series, Astro Boy in 1963. This show was a significant milestone in anime history, both...

This creative program invites musicians to interact with sounds recorded from the depths of the ocean. UC San Diego music professor and Qualcomm Institute Research Artist-in-Residence Lei Liang explores his composition "Six Seasons" with Marco Fusi, a renowned string player who has performed “Six Seasons,” and Joshua Jones, a project scientist with the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography lab that recorded the soundscape. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40019]

Earl Thomas was born into a musical family in rural Tennessee and grew up in a house brimming with music. His father was a bluesman and his mother was a gospel singer, so music is in his veins. He stumbled into the music industry by accident, which led to a vibrant 30-year career that is steeped in African American tradition and culture. His music is a potent mix of the traditional and contemporary gospel, expressed in an impressive music catalogue. As a singer songwriter, his music – deeply...

Pathway to the Center musically describes walking a labyrinth. Set to Bach's Cello Suite 1 in G Major, performed by harpist Laura Zaerr, the journey from the ISS takes you from serene clouds to the eye of a hurricane and back to serenity. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40229]

An American animator, film director, and producer, Max Fleischer is best known for creating some of the most iconic animated characters and for pioneering several animation techniques that have had a lasting impact on the industry. Fleischer is responsible for creating Betty Boop, Popeye the Sailor, and Koko the Clown, and was one of the leading figures in the early days of American animation, alongside Walt Disney, and his work significantly shaped the development of the medium. While his...

UC Davis is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the campus' iconic Egghead sculptures in 2024. As part of the celebration, this documentary tells the tale of the UC Davis art department — from its founding artists to the present faculty and students who follow in the founders' footsteps. The first-generation artists built their community in the ceramics building known as TB 9, or Temporary Building 9, and ignited an art revolution. Part one of the three-part series looks at the cultural...

Our movie Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace) tells a special story. In 2022, COVID prevented a live performance of Dona Nobis Pacem at the annual BachFest in Leipzig, Germany. So, with creativity and passion, they converted this into a global performance, using this music to link people all over the world. On this night flight over Earth from the International Space Station, bright lines show how we all interconnect as we hear the moving performance of Bach's Dona Nobis Pacem, from B minor...

Astronauts on the International Space Station see 16 sunsets (and sunrises) every day. This movie captures the intense colors of a space sunset, taken with a telephoto lens, harmonized with floating, ethereal space music. This is an original composition by Steve Thomas, who plays the electric guitar and works extra magic with digital creativity. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40096]

Born in the rhythms of Burkina Faso and cradled by the tradition of the griots, Adama Bilorou knows how to transform his heritage into a melody of multiple nuances—a musical journey that crosses continents and cultures. Drawing inspiration from the sights and sounds of his childhood in the Ivory Coast and his later journeys to Italy, France, the United States and Burkina Faso—Adama Bilorou has creatively composed his uniquely beautiful score. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID:...

CONTRA-TIEMPO Activist Dance Theater’s ¡azúcar! is a courageous naming of, confrontation with, and intentional obliteration of the often unspoken undercurrent of anti-Blackness in latinidad. Questions are continuing to drive the process as we begin to understand the complicated history of sugar and the messages from our ancestors. What does it feel like to individually and collectively heal, what does it move like? Twenty brilliant artists and collaborators take audiences through a journey of...

Joy of Flight captures the night view of the Gulf of Mexico from the International Space Station set to Bach’s Trio Sonata #5 and performed by organist Emily Amos. The organ is a majestic instrument, and a real challenge for musicians, with active hands and feet on multiple keyboards. Yet when it comes together it is beautiful. In 2023, Amos headed the Youth Council of the American Guild of Organists, and played this lovely floating music. The night view from Gulf of Mexico is equally...

On this Earth path from the International Space Station, we selected a flight starting with the Atlantic coast, passing over the Sahara, the Mediterranean Sea, Italy and on to Ukraine. Music is performed by Qingzhu Weng who won the International BachFest 2022 competition with this stunning performance of the Violin Partita #2 in D minor: Chaconne movement, by Johann Sebastian Bach. Considered one of the most challenging works for violin, the performance is superb. Series: "Arts Channel "...

Born in the rhythms of Burkina Faso and cradled by the tradition of the griots, Adama Bilorou knows how to transform his heritage into a melody of multiple nuances—a musical journey that crosses continents and cultures. Drawing inspiration from the sights and sounds of his childhood in the Ivory Coast and his later journeys to Italy, France, the United States and Burkina Faso—Adama Bilorou has creatively composed his uniquely beautiful score. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID:...

Take an exquisite ride in space from the International Space Station. Steve Thomas composed these ethereal guitarscapes as a commission for use on the ISS during Richard Garriott’s pioneering flight as a private astronaut. Garriott's photos comprise a collection of 20 flight paths around Earth. The timeless music is emotionally aligned with views of Earth, from the Sahara and Himalayas to the moody aurora borealis. The Earth Serenade series is from the Association of Space Explorers, the...